SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence…: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
CVE-2023-36917 is a high-severity improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts vulnerability in SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform from SAP, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform versions: 4.20; 430. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.58% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on sap.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAP | SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform | 4.20; 430 | Not stated |
| SAP | Businessobjects Business Intelligence | 420; 430 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 5.9 | Medium | CNA (sap.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform - version 420, 430, allows an unauthorized attacker who had hijacked a user session, to be able to bypass the victim’s old password via brute force, due to unrestricted rate limit for password change functionality. Although the attack has no impact on integrity loss or system availability, this could lead to an attacker to completely takeover a victim’s account.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
The product does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts within a short time frame.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Common protection mechanisms include: Disconnecting the user after a small number of failed attempts Implementing a timeout Locking out a targeted account Requiring a computational task on the user's part.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
More Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerabilities (CWE-307)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- me.sap.com/notes/3320702Permissions Required
Other vulnerabilities in SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
Recent Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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